Selective oxidation of alcohols to esters using heterogeneous Co3O4-N@C catalysts under mild conditions.

Novel cobalt-based heterogeneous catalysts have been developed for the direct oxidative esterification of alcohols using molecular oxygen as benign oxidant. Pyrolysis of nitrogen-ligated cobalt(II) acetate supported on commercial carbon transforms typical homogeneous complexes to highly active and selective heterogeneous Co3O4-N@C materials. By applying these catalysts in the presence of oxygen, the cross and self-esterification of alcohols to esters proceeds in good to excellent yields.